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Basal vein of rosenthal

The Basal Vein of Rosenthal is a major deep cerebral vein that plays a crucial role in draining blood from the deep structures of the brain, including the medial temporal lobe, insular cortex, and parts of the basal ganglia and internal capsule. It is formed by the convergence of several smaller veins at the level of the anterior perforated substance and courses posteriorly around the midbrain, eventually emptying into the great cerebral vein (vein of Galen). Its anatomical pathway and relationships are clinically significant, particularly in neuroimaging and neurosurgical procedures.

Synonyms

  • Basal vein

  • Vein of Rosenthal

  • Rosenthal vein

  • Vena basalis (Latin)

  • Basal cerebral vein

Function

  • Drains venous blood from deep and medial structures of the cerebral hemisphere

  • Receives blood from the anterior cerebral, deep middle cerebral, and striate veins

  • Empties into the great cerebral vein (vein of Galen)

  • Important for venous outflow of the basal ganglia, internal capsule, thalamus, hippocampus, and mesial temporal lobe

  • Assists in maintaining normal intracranial pressure and cerebral perfusion

MRI Appearance

T2-weighted MRI:

  • Appears as a flow void (signal loss) due to fast-flowing blood

  • Seen as a thin, linear, or curvilinear hypointense structure in the ambient cistern along the lateral aspect of the midbrain

  • Usually bilateral

T1-weighted MRI:

  • Appears as a low signal (hypointense) structure, similar to other veins, due to flowing blood

  • Occasionally, the vein can be better appreciated with 3D T1 imaging

3D Phase-Contrast (PC) MRI:

  • Basal vein is well-visualized as a linear, high signal structure due to sensitivity of the sequence to moving blood

  • Useful for non-contrast venography and detailed mapping of venous anatomy

Post-contrast T1-weighted MRI:

  • Shows prominent, linear enhancement along its course in the ambient cistern

  • Enhancement confirms patency and helps differentiate from adjacent structures

  • Useful for identifying thrombosis or anatomical variants

CT Appearance

Non-contrast CT:

  • Not usually visible due to its small caliber and similar attenuation to surrounding brain structures

  • May occasionally be seen as a thin linear structure if densely calcified or thrombosed

CT Angiography (CTA):

  • Can be visualized as an enhancing vein in the ambient cistern

  • Appears as a thin, enhancing tubular structure along the lateral aspect of the midbrain

  • Best seen in venous phase images

CT Venography (CTV):

  • Basal vein is visualized as a contrast-filled linear vessel, draining into the vein of Galen

  • Used to assess venous patency or identify thrombosis

MRI images

basal vein of rosenthal MRI 3T axial image 1

MRI images

basal vein of rosenthal MRI 3T coronal image

MRI images

basal vein of rosenthal MRI 3T mip image